Gas-mixing apparatus.



No. 789,370 I PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

G. M. KEMP.

GAS MIXING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 6, 1904.

luvavufoz Patented May 9, 1905.

ATENT trier.

CLARENCE M. KEMP, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

GAS-MIXING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,370, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed July 6, 1904. Serial No. 215,491.

To It 1071/0/17, [It um/y concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE M. KEMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in. the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Mixing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in gas-mixing apparatus of that character or type-employed for the purpose of acting upon. gases consisting of air saturated with hydrocarbon vapors as it comes from the carbureter and which is of high and varying density, and consequently of uncertain and poor illuminating qualities, to establish for the gas a uniform and proper density necessary for satisfactory illuminating purposes.

The primary object of my invention is to construct an apparatus having means controlled by the density of the gas as it comes from the carburetor to mix air with said gas in varying quantities in proportion. to the degree of saturatioiii of the gas.

The invention consists in the improved apparatus to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

1 have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section through an apparatus constructed to embody my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the locking-lever forholding the controlling valve closed when the closure to the air-chamber is removed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a cylindrical vessel of such dimensions and capacity as to adapt it to the purposes for which it is employed and within which are arranged and combined in operative relation the elements embodying my invention. The interior of this vessel is divided into upper and lower chambers or compartments 2 3 by means of a horizontal partition i, which is located at a point a distance above the vertical center of the vessel. The upper of these chambers will hereinafter be referred to as the gas-chamber, and the lower chamb er will be designated as the receiving-chainber. The partition 4 is formed at its central portion with an opening 5, which. is surrounded by an annular perforated wall or flange 6, said wall extending for a short distance above the upper side of said partition and constituting a conduit through which co1n munieatiou is established between the and receiving chambers by the way of the perforations therein, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

At its upper edge and exterior thereto the vessel 1, is provided with an annular horizontally-disposed flange 7, which serves to brace and strengthen the shell of the vessel and also acts as a support for the closure of the gas-chamber and an airc.hamber, which will now be described. The closure ust referred to consists of an annular plate 8, which rests with its outer edge portion upon the llange 7 and is rigidly secured thereto by means of suitable clamping-bolts 9, substan tially as show u, in the drawings. Formed in the closure-plate S is an inlet-opening 10, having connection with the carburetor, (not shown) through which gas is admitted to the gas-chamber 2. Supported by the inner annular edge of the plate 8 is a depending cylindrical receptacle 11, forming an aircham her which extends down well within the gaschamber, said receptacle being of such diameter as to leave an annular space between it and the side walls of said chamber and of such depth. as to rest a distance above the partition 4 to leave a clear space between the bottom of the air-receptacle and said partition, so as to permit the even diffusion and circulation of the throughout the gaschamber and the admission of the gas into the conduit 6 from all sides thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the bottom of the air-chamber rests upon the upper end of the conduit 6 and is formed with a central opening 12, which registers with and opens into the upper end of the conduit and by means of which communication is had from the air-chamber into the receiving-011amber. Threaded into the wall of the opening 12 is the lower end of a vertically-oxtending tube 13, the upper end of said tube terminating at a point well within the air-chamber and formed or provided at its upper end with a valveseat 141. Cooperating with the seat 1 1 is a disk valve 15, having a grooved depending extension 16 projecting within the tube 13 and serving, in connection with the walls of the tube, to act as a guide for said valve in its vertical movement in controlling the opening to the tube.

Arranged and operating within the airchamber is a means for raising the valve from its seat to permit a low of air through the tube 13 into the receiving-chamber, which means will now be described. Secured upon the upper face of the valve 15 is a horizontal plate 17, having perforations 18, as shown in Fig. 1, the edges of said plate projecting laterally beyond the tube and having depending therefrom an annular sleeve 19, surrounding the tube 13 and of such diameter as to hang from the plate 17, with a space be tween the sleeve and the tube. This sleeve carries an annular float 20, suspended in a suitable liquid, such as water, within the airchamber to raise the valve 15 from its seat, when said valve is free to move, as will here inafter be set forth, to open communication between the air-chamber and the receivingchamber through the tube 13 and the conduit 6.

The means for maintaining the valve 15 seated while the gas is of the proper density, and which is controlled by the density of the gas when the same exceeds the proper degree of saturation to release the valve 15 to permit it to be lifted by the float 20 and admit air to the conduit 6 to reduce the density of the gas, will now be described.

Depending from the extension 16 of the valve 15 and extending through the tube 13 and conduit 6 is a rod 21, the lower end of which projects downwardly within the receiving-chamber, terminating adjacent the bottom of said chamber and carryingaplumbweight 22, the function of which is to maintain the valve 15 centralized with relation to its seat in its vertical movements.

Located within the receiving-chamber and slidably mounted upon the rod 21 is a weight, shown in the present instance as consisting of a hollow shell 23, formed with a central guide-opening 24, through which the rod 21 extends. This weight 23 as long as the gas passing into the receiving-chamber is of the proper density and uniform in saturation rests upon the plumb-weight 22, the combined weight of the shell 23 and the plumb-weight being sufficient to overcome the buoyancy of the shell 20 in the air-chamber and hold the valve 15 to its seat, thereby shutting oil the supply of air from said chamber to the conduit 6. When, however, the density be comes too high, the weight 23 rises a distance proportional to the density of the gas, and it will be seen that the combined weight of the shell 23 and plumb-weight will be less when the gas is dense than when rarefied and that the pull on the valve exerted by the combined weights of said shell and plumb-weight under normal conditions will be reduced to permit the liquid-controlled float to raise the valve 15 off its seat, so that air may pass through the conduit 6 from the air-chamber to reduce the density of the gas. It will be seen that the quantity of airadmitted through the conduit 6 to be mixed with the gas entering said conduit will be determined by the position of the weight 23, which will rise according to the density of the gas and will permit the valve 15 to rise a distance determined by the height to which the said weight 23 moves.

In order to provide for the proper balance of the valve and its controlling means, so that there will be suflicient downward pull on the valve-rod when the weight 23 is in its lowermost position to overcome the buoyancy of the float 20 and seat the valve 15 and also to provide for the proper submersion of the float 20, the top of the valve 15 is provided with a central vertical post 25, adapted to receive apertured weights 26 of a number sufficient to obtain the correct balance, said weights being detachable and interchangeable to provide for a proper adjustment.

Upon the top of the valve 15 are also mounted anumber of eyes 27, in each of which is secured one end of a guy-wire 28, the other end of which is secured to the wall of the airchamber, the purpose of said wires being to maintain the valve central of its seat, so as to move vertically without frictional engagement with the interior of the tube 13.

The upper portion of the air-chamber is closed by means of a cover 29 of any desired form and which is formed'at its center with an interiorly-threaded opening 30, constituting a hand-hole, through which access may be had to the interior of the chamber to permit the adjustment of the weights 26 as occasion may demand. This hand-hole is closed by a screw-plug 31, and in order to prevent escape of the gas when said plug is removed I have devised a novel means for locking the valve to its seat, which is controlled by the plug to lock the valve when the plug is removed and to release the'same for continued operation after the plug is op erated to close the hand-hole. The means referred to is constructed and operates as follows: Upon the under side of the cover 29, adjacent to the hand-hole, is a lug or bracket 32, in which is pivoted the stem 33 of a yokeshaped lever 34, the arms 35 of which are weighted and arranged to straddle the post 25 and weights 26, the stem of said lever being provided on the opposite side of its pivot with a forwardly and upwardly inclined extension or toe 36. When the plug 31 is re- IIO moved, this weighted lever rests with its arms 35 on the upper face of the valve 15, the weight of the lever serving to maintain the valve seated and its extension 36 terminating ust within the periphery of the handhole. With the lever in this position the parts within the air-chamber may be adjusted without any danger of the gas escaping upwardly through the tube 13. When, however, the plug is screwed into place, its lower edge engages the toe 36 of the lever place to close the opening through the tube 13 and cuts oil' the supply of air.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of an air chamber having an inlet-opening, a mixing-chamber having an inlet-opening and a receivingchamber, said air and mixing chambers having communication with the receivingcham. ber, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, means in the receiving-chamber for normally and pushes the same rearwardly, and thereby l holding the valve to its seat, and means in lifting the yoke-lever 34: out of engagement with the valve, which is free to be operated by its controlling means. In order to provide for an effective engagement of the plug with the toe 36, the lower edge of said plug is inclined upwardly and outwardly, as at 37, so that a rearward movement of the toe 36 is assured.

Air may be suppliedunder pressure to the air-chamber in any desired manner; but I have shown. the air as being let into said chamber by a short anglepipe 37, located in the space between the wall of the air-chamber and the wall of the containing vessel, one end of said pipe opening into the chamber through the side wall thereof and the other end connected to the source of airsupply through the annular plate 8, heretofore re ferred to.

Located in the receiving-chamber, adjacent the bottom thereof, is a partition 38, extend ing entirely across said chamber and formed adjacent its edge with perforations 29, which serve to break up the air and gas to insure the efficient mixing thereof before passing out of the exit 40 in the bottom of the vessel 2 1 to be distributed to the points where it is to be consumed.

The structure and arrangement of the various elements being as above described, the operation of my invention. is as follows: Gas from a carburetor is permitted to enter the gas chamber 2 through the inlet 10 and from said chamber enters the conduit 6, which constitutes a miXing-chamber, through the perforations therein, and flows into the receivirig-chamber, and as long as it is of the proper density it departs therefrom through the outlet 40 without affecting the weight 23 and the parts controlled thereby. When, however, the gas becomes of a density too high for satisfactory illuminating purposes, the combined weight of the shell 23 and the plumb-weight will be reduced and the float 20 in the air-chamber will raise the valve from its seat and permit the air to flow from the air-chamber, through the tube 13 and conduit 6, down into the receiving-chamber, the air partially mixing with the gas as it meets the same in the conduit'and reduces the density of the gas until the weight 23 drops down and pulls the valve back into the air-chamber to raise the valve.

2. The combination of an. air chamber having an inlet-opening, a mixing-ehamber having an inlet opening and a receivingchamber, said air and mixing chambers having communication with the receiving-chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, means in the receivingchamber controlled by the density of gas therein, for normally holdin g the valve to its seat, and means in the airchamber to raise the valve.

3. The combination of an air chamber having an inlet-opening, a mixing-chamber having an. inlet opening and a receivingchamber, said air and mixing chambers having communication with the receiving-chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, a weight in the receiving-chamb er to normally hold the valve to its seat, said weight being regulated by the density of gas, and means in the air-chamber to raise the valve from its seat.

l. The con'lbination of an air chamber having an inlet-opening, a mixing-chamber having an inlet opening and a receivingchamber, said air and mixing chambers hav ing communication with the receiving-chant ber, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, a weight in the receiving-chainber controlled by the density of gas therein, to normally hold the valve to its seat, and means in the air chamber to raise the valve when released by the weight.

5. The combination of a receiving-chamber, an air chamber above the receivingchamber and communicating therewith, means for supplying to the receivingchambcr, a valve controlling the communication between the air and receiving chambers, a weight operating to normally maintain the valve closed, said weight being controlled by the density of the gas in the receiving-chamber, and a liquid-controlled float in the air-chamber operating when the valve is released by the said weight, to open. the valve, said weight and float being arranged in vertieal alinement with each other.

6. The combination of a reccivingcham ber, an air chamber above the receiving chamber and communicating therewith, means for supplying gas to the receivingchamber, a valve controlling the communication between said chambers, a rod on said valve extending into the receiving-chamber, a weight cooperating with said rod and serving to normally maintain the valve closed, said weight being controlled by the density of gas in the receiving-chamber, and a liquidcontrolled float in the air-chamber operating when the valve is released by the weight to open the valve, said valve, valve-rod, weight and float being in vertical alinement.

7. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, a rod extending from said valve into the receiving-chamber, a weight slidably mounted on said rod, and normally engaging the same to hold the valve seated, and means in the air-chamber to raise the valve when the density of gas in the receiving-chamber, raises the float out of engagement with said rod.

8. The combination of an air-chamber, a

mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber,

said chambers having communication with each other, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing chamber, part of said valve extending within the receiving-chamber, means in the receiv ing-chamber normally engaging the valve to hold it seated and controlled by the density of gas in said chamber to release the valve, and means in the air-chamber to raise the valve when released.

9. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, said chambers having communication with each other, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixingchamber, means extending from said valve into the receiving-chamber, means within said chamber normally engaging the aforesaid means to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas in the receivingchamber to release the valve, and means in the air-chamber to raise the valve when released.

10. The combination ol an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, said chambers having communication one with the other, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, means in the receiving-chamber normally holding said valve seated and controlled by the density of gas in said chamber to release the valve and a float in the airchamber to raise the valve when released.

11. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, said chambers having communication one with the other, a valve for controlling the passage of air from the air-chamber to the mixing-chamber, means in the receiving-chamber normally holding said valve seated, and controlled by the density of gas in said cham ber to release the valve, and a float in the airchamber to raise the valve when released.

12. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a tube located centrally of the air-chamber and communicating with the receiving-chamber, a valve to close said tube, a valve-rod connected to the valve and projecting into the receiving-chamber, means within the receiving-chamber cooperating with the rod to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas within. the chamber to release the valve, and means in the air-chamber to seat the valve when released.

13. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a tube located centrally of the air-chamber and communicating with the receiving-chamber, a valve to close said tube, a valve-rod connected to the valve and projecting through the tube into the receiving-chainber, means within the receiving-chamber cooperating with the rod to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas within the chamber to release the valve, and means in the airchamber to seat the valve when released.

14. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a tube located centrally of the air-chamber and communicating with the receivingchamber, a valve to close said tube, a valve-rod connected to the valve and projecting into the receiving-chamber, means within the receiving-chamber cooperating with the rod to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas within the chamber to release the valve, and a float in the air-chamber to seat the valve when released.

15. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a tube located centrally of the air-chamber and communicating with the receiving-chamber, a valve to close said tube, a valve-rod connected to the valve and projecting into the receiving-chamber, means within the receiving-chamber cooperating with the rod to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas within the chamber to release the valve, and a float having an opening through which the tube projects in the air chamber to seat the valve when released.

16. The combination of an air-chamber, a mixing-chamber, and a receiving-chan-iber, a tube arranged centrally of the air-chamber, and communicating with the receiving-chamber, a valve to close said tube, a valve-rod connected to the valve and proj ecting through the tube into the receiving-chamber, means within the receiving-chamber cooperating with the rod to hold the valve seated and controlled by the density of gas within the chamber to release the valve, a sleeve arranged concentrically of the tube and movable longitudinally thereof and a float controlled by a liquid within the air-chamber to raise the valve when released.

17. The combination of communicating chambers, means controlling the communication between said chambers, a closure for one of the chambers, and means operable by the closure to render the controlling means inoperative.

18. The combination of an air-chamber, and a receiving-chamber, a perforated mixing-conduit connecting said chambers, means for passing air through said pipe from the air-chamber, means for passing gas into said pipe through the perforations to meet the air and be mixed therewith as it passes to the receiving-chamber.

19. The combination of an air-chamber, a gas-chamber and a receiving-chamber, a conduit connecting the air and receiving chambers, and having open communication with the gas-chamber, and means controlled by the density of gas in the receiving-chamber to regulate the flow of air through the conduit.

20. The combination of an air-chamber, a gas-chamber and a receiving-chainleer, a perlorated conduit connecting the air and receiving chambers and passing through the gas-chamber, and means controlled by the density of gas in the receiving-chamber to regulate the How of air through the conduit.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a receiving-chamber, of an air and gas conduit leading into said chamber, means for feeding air and gas into said conduit, and means controlled by the density of the mixture in the receiving-chamher for controlling the How of one of thelluids to the conduit.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a receiving-chamber, of an air and gas conduit leading into said chamber, means for admitting air and gas into said conduit, and means controlled by the density of the gas in the chamber for controlling the flow of air into the conduit.

In an apparatus of the class described, two chambers, a conduit establishing com munication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the low of a fluid through said conduit, the weight in one chamber and a float in the other chamber for controlling the movements of the valve, said weight being controlled by the density of the gas in one chamber and the float being controlled by a liquid in the other chamber.

24. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber for receiving a mixture of air and gas, an air-inlet pipe leading into said chamber, a valve for said pipe, and a connected weight and float for controlling the move til ment of said valve, said float being controlled by a liquid, and the weight by the density of the gas in the chamber.

25. In an apparatus of the class described, an air-chamber and a gas-receiving chamber having communication with each other by a pipe or passage, a valve for controlling the llow OT air through said pipe or passage, a liquid-controlled float in the air-chamber having a connection with said valve, a weight in the receiving-chamber adapted to rise and tall according to the density of the gas, and means in said chamber cooperating with the weight for assisting in controlling the movements of the valve.

26. In a device of the class described, a easing having an outlet-opening and. an aperture for gaining access to the interior of the casing, a valve for the outlet-opening, a closure for the aperture, and means actuated by the opening movement of the closure for holding the valve to its seat.

27. In a device of the class described,a casing having an outlet-opening and an aperture for a'l'lording access to the interior of the casing, a valve for the outlet-opening, a closure rmthe aperture, and means for holding the valve closed when the closure is removed.

28. In a device of the class described, a casing having an outlet-opening and an aperture for a'l'lording access to the interior of the casing, a valve for the outlet-opening, a closure for the aperture, and a gravity device cooperating with the valve to hold the latter to its seat, said device being brought into operation when the closure is moved to open the aperture.

29. In a device of the class described, a casing having an outlet-opening and an aperture for affording access to the interior of the casing, a valve for the outlet-opening, a clo sure for the aperture, a pivoted gravity device for holding the valve to its seat when the closure is opened, and means actuated by the closing movement of the closure to move said device away from the valve.

30. In a device of the class described, a casing having an outlet-opening and an aperture in line with said opening for all'ording access to the interior of the casing, a valve for the outlet-opening, a closure for the aperture, and means within the casing acting when the closure is in position to hold the valve away from its seat and when removed to hold the valve to its seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

CLARENCE M. KEMP. Witnesses W. H. Van HORN, LOIS E. HALL. 

